Christmas in St. Charles, Missouri

19/12/2008

Christmas past returns in full, glorious force in the historic Main Street, St. Charles, Missouri. Decked out in finery reminiscent of winters in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prarie, this town celebrates like USA did centuries ago.

Common sights are lamp posts wrapped with holiday greenery, bows, and Christmas lights, carollers dressed in Victorian costumes, and shop windows with miniature Christmas town displays. Famous characters such as Sweden’s Santa Lucia, A Christmas Carol’s Tiny Tim, and the Sugarplum Fairy make appearances too. A Victorian Santa, a Civil War Santa, a Scandinavian Santa, a Frontier Santa, and only one Mrs. Claus are present too.

Among the main events are Las Posadas, a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter, accompanied by a parade of onlookers singing carols. The route ends in Frontier Park, where the Christmas Story is narrated, and the town Christmas tree and the Yule Log are lit. Ebenezer Scrooge’s Christmas Feast at the Mother-In-Law House restaurant is another big thing, where the spirits of Christmas past, present, and future are present, as well as the formidable man himself. The menu includes blueberry muffins, pork loin roulade, and house wine.

There is loads more to do in this town, which seems to take every lyric from every Christmas song and turn them into reality. Ride a horse-drawn carriage, cook some chestnuts, and collect character cards featuring those you’ve met here. Snack on kettle corn and roasted nuts, do some shopping, or listen to the drummers and fife-players.

For a saccharine souvenir, take your sweetheart (even if he or she doesn’t know it yet) beneath the kissing ball at the Gazebo at Kister Park. Finally, an excuse to snog the man or woman of your dreams!